Publication of the Executive Committee Letter was suspended some time
ago under an assumption that adequate information was being provided by
other Fellowship publications. That assumption seems to have been mistaken.
Many members have asked that the Executive Committee Letter be reactivated
as a vehicle for informing members in a timely way of the actions of the
Executive Committee and/or the General Council, and of other matters of
organizational concern. This letter responds to those requests.

The Executive Committee Letter provides a brief report of current business.
Members desiring a more detailed account of any of the matters reported
are encouraged to contact the Fellowship office, or any member of the Executive
Committee and/or General Council.

Publication of The Urantia Book

The Fellowship plans to publish The Urantia Book in April 1996. It is
typeset in a two column format and incorporates a reference system to locate
passages of the text by citing paper, section and paragraph. Notation is
also provided to allow readers to easily cross-reference to the pagination
of the 1955 public domain printing of The Urantia Book.

The book will be soft covered, 6 1/2 by 9 1/4 inches in size, and contain
approximately 1900 pages. Two different cover designs will be produced.
One is intended to appeal to bookstore browsers; the other is more conservative
and was designed with experienced readers in mind. In addition, a small
number of hardbound copies will be published.

This edition reproduces the 1955 public domain text of The Urantia Book
except for the correction of spelling and typographic errors. These corrections
are fully documented in a separate pamphlet, available on request. The
plan to include a topical index has been postponed since it will not be
ready in time for this printing. An index will be included in subsequent
printings.

An initial printing of 15,000 copies is planned. Pre-publication sales
to individuals already exceed 1000, and an additional 4500 copies have
been ordered by large quantity purchasers.

Publishing The Urantia Book has been a complex and demanding experience.
There has been much to learn. Many decisions have been required on matters
large and small, with dozens of readers contributing their time and expertise
to the process. As of this report, there are still a number of details
that need to be settled. The final result will be a high quality, low cost
reprinting of The Urantia Book. In addition, the knowledge and experience
gained in this effort will further improve quality and reduce cost in subsequent
printings, both of the English-language text and of translations.

Fellowship Amicus Brief in the Foundation - Maaherra Lawsuit

At its meeting of February 2,1996 the Fellowship General Council, by
a vote of 18 to 15, approved a proposal to file an amicus (friend of the
court) brief in the appeal of the Foundation - Maaherra copyright lawsuit.
The Foundation's appeal seeks to nullify the circuit court summary finding
that invalidated the renewal of copyright in The Urantia Book thereby putting
the book into the public domain. The Fellowship brief asks the court to
sustain the lower court decision.

The close General Council vote on this matter reflects the controversial
nature of the decision. In the past the General Council voted to remain
organizationally uninvolved in the Foundation - Maaherra lawsuit. Various
considerations related to the Fellowship's planned publication of The Urantia
Book are the primary reasons for this change in policy.

This filing is a one time event. There are no plans or expectations
for further legal involvement on the part of the Fellowship. The brief
makes the court aware of the existence of the Fellowship and of the interests
of the Fellowship in the outcome of the appeal.

In content, the Fellowship brief challenges the legal validity of much
of the evidence presented by the Foundation in support of its claim of
copyright. Virtually all of this evidence is a disputed recounting of various
traditions about the origin and management of The Urantia Book. While these
traditions are significant to many readers, for legal purposes they constitute
hearsay and are therefore inadmissible as factual evidence. In addition,
the Fellowship brief demonstrates that even if the Foundation's disputed
accounts of these oral traditions were admissible as evidence, they would
still not support the Foundation's copyright claims.

In the several hours of formal discussion that preceded the vote, many
different views, for and against the filing of a brief, were presented.
A fair account of these many views cannot be presented in this report.
Members who wish to have more information are encouraged to contact any
General Councilor. Additional written materials are available on request
from the Fellowship office. These include some further explanation and
copies of the relevant legal briefs, if desired. The total of this material
exceeds 100 pages.

Some members have expressed concern that a policy decision of this kind
should not be made by the Executive Committee and/or General Council until
the societies and members-at-large have been consulted and given an opportunity
to offer their views. Others feel that a member referendum should be required
for actions of this kind. In this case the short filing deadlines set by
the court limited the period in which action could be taken, and therefore
the matter was handled by executive decision. Subsequently, these deadlines
were extended by several weeks, giving the General Council an opportunity
to discuss the matter before a final decision was made.

The Fellowship's decision-making process is defined by the Fellowship
Constitution. It is vested in the General Council, a group of 36 members
elected by societies at the Triennial Delegate Assemblies. As discussed
elsewhere in this report, this body may soon be expanded through direct
election by individual societies. Even so, the process will remain representative;
there are no constitutional provisions for direct involvement of the entire
membership in decision-making.

Society Representation on the General Council

The General Council approved a proposal to give each Fellowship society
the right to elect one member to the General Council. The proposal requires
a society to have 10 or more active members to be eligible to elect a councilor.
These councilors would be added to the 36 elected by the Triennial Delegate
Assemblies. Since there are 18 Fellowship societies, the size of the General
Council could expand to 54 members.

An amendment to the Fellowship Constitution is required to put this
proposal into effect. That could take place at the August 1996 meeting
of the General Council in Flagstaff, Arizona. However, there has been some
concern expressed that the proposal involves matters of local society autonomy.
If that is assumed, the proposal cannot be put into effect for another
year, until it is approved by the 1997 Triennial Delegate Assembly. The
Judicial Committee does not believe the proposal infringes upon local society
autonomy.

The Judicial Committee has sent a questionnaire to each society asking
for opinions on the matter. Additional copies of this questionnaire, along
with copies of the proposed amendment, are available on request from the
Fellowship office. Societies are strongly encouraged to respond to the
Judicial Committee questionnaire as soon as possible. These responses will
determine whether the proposed amendment can be enacted this summer, or
must wait until summer 1997.

General Council, Executive Committee and Standing Committee Elections

John Hay, chair of the Special Projects Committee, has resigned from
the General Council to attend to personal business. The General Council
and the Executive Committee both passed resolutions thanking John for his
many years of devoted service to The Urantia Book and to those who read
it.

At its meeting of Feb. 2, 1996, the General Council elected Brian Smith
to fill the General Council seat vacated by John Hay. David Kantor was
elected to chair the Special Projects Committee, thereby becoming a member
of the Executive Committee. Lila Dogim resigned from the Education Committee
and was elected to a vacant position on the International Fellowship Committee.

international Conference 1996 - August 3-8, 1996 in Flagstaff, Arizona

Registration response to IC96 has been excellent. To date, approximately
1000 individuals have indicated their intention to attend. Many have complimented
the IC96 planning committee on the quality of its conference plans and
informational materials. IC96 will incorporate and add to all the features
of previous conferences. In particular, a major effort is being made to
provide a quality conference experience for all children, from toddlers
through teens.

A large registration is expected, with housing provided on a first come,
first served basis. Early registration is strongly advised. A substantial
early registration discount is available for those who register by March
15, 1996.

Relationship between The Fellowship and Urantia Foundation

There has been no significant interaction between the trustees of Urantia
Foundation and officers of the Fellowship in the last few months. Perhaps
that situation will improve as some of the current dividing issues become
facts of the past. In any case, the officers of the Fellowship would be
happy to meet with the trustees to discuss any and all matters of concern,
and to search for ways to foster unity and cooperation while celebrating
diversity.

On a brighter note, there has been meaningful dialogue between some
members of the IUA (International Urantia Association) and some Fellowship
members. They are developing a number of cooperative activities, some of
which will be presented at IC96.

The Fellowship and the Foundation separated in 1989, after 35 years
of close association. A period of confusion followed that still leaves
much unresolved. Many readers who take an active interest in organizational
activities, from both the Fellowship and the Foundation, are not content
with the current situation. They want to see a greater sense of unity,
fellowship and cooperation between these two groups.

A return to the familiar models and assumptions of the past is unlikely.
Unity must be found in association with the newer and evolving ideals which
are modifying and replacing older traditions. The future belongs to those
individuals - whether from the Fellowship, the Foundation or elsewhere
- who will work to foster unity and cooperation among all groups of readers
in the midst of the increasingly diverse social response to The Urantia
Book and its teachings.

My apologies to those who have missed the Executive Committee Letter.
You can expect to receive it at least quarterly from now on. Your early
registration for IC96 is most appreciated as it greatly facilitates the
complex planning process. I hope to see you there, if not before.

In fellowship,

Steve Dreier President

"Man can never wisely decide temporal issues or transcend the selfishness
of personal interests unless he meditates in the presence of the sovereignty
of God and reckons with the realities of divine meanings and spiritual
values. " - The Urantia Book (Paper 99, section 7, paragraph 4)